a kiss with a fist is better than none ; dated early april

[morethanhuman]

Erik was in a black mood, as if in direct opposition to the breezy spring morning that greeted him when he stepped out onto the Nexus grounds for a run. Normally he was up and out by dawn, but sleep had eluded him for most of last night, and by the time he'd managed a few fitful hours, his schedule was completely thrown off. He'd woken irritable and feeling trapped, and even more irked by the fact that he couldn't put his finger on what was putting him so off-kilter.

So here he was, the sun climbing toward noon, trying to outrun the sort of climbing-out-of-his-skin frustration that, in Erik's experience, could only be sated by the kind of exertion of his powers that he didn't have the space or materials to indulge in here. He thought wistfully of Madame Troi's shuttle; juggling that for an hour or so would have taken the edge off nicely.

The moment's distraction cost him dearly; he didn't sense the other person's metal-covered body flying at him until it was too late. He rounded a corner at the same time as the woman coming the other way attempted to do the same, and they crashed into each other, the rebound sending Erik reeling away into the hedge.

His assailant stumbled backward, trying to regain her footing, but Erik's rage made him quick, and she was wearing a lot of armor. With one quick slice of his hand, he sent her sprawling back on her ass in the gravel, snarling, "Are you blind by accident, or by choice?"

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[bornagoddess]

This was ridiculous. Ridiculous and unnerving. Sif had as much been enjoying herself here as fretting over getting home, and it was putting her in an especially rotten mood. If on one hand she wanted to get there and resume her duties, Sif was afraid to go through the door and be unable to find it ever again. It was not all for Loki, either, though having found him before the point of no return had given her pause and filled her with hope. It was because of the people she had met, whom she might not see again - not really.

Sif had combed through the building already to no avail. Her only other option was the grounds. She was not sure how doors manifested there, but she had nothing to do but find out. Stomping through them impatiently, it felt like she was on fire. Frustration was not something Sif dealt well with, quite the opposite. She had just walked by something that, out the corner of her eye, looked to be a door. Upon closer inspection, Sif found her anxiety was playing tricks on her.

When she turned to resume her stomping, she did so right around a corner and into someone. While she only stumbled the other got sent into a hedge and once again Sif was reminded of her superior strength when compared to a Midgardian - if that was what he was.

She had not been expected, thus, being thrown back into the gravel by virtually nothing. Sif's first reaction was to pull her sword loose from its place, click one of its edges out of the hilt, point it at the assailant. "A powerful man indeed, that which faults others for not seeing through concrete walls." She growled, getting back on her feet. "How did you do that?" Sif demanded.

[morethanhuman]

Erik was boiling, just looking for an excuse to pick a fight— someone who knew him well might have known enough to back off, but this woman had practically handed him an invitation. Pulling a weapon on him— a metal weapon, no less— was just the final straw.

"Like this," he said coolly, pulling the sword from her grasp and tossing it aside. It clattered to the gravel with a satisfying clatter, and he treated her to his widest, smuggest smile. "Would you like another demonstration?" He nudged at her armor again, not enough to unbalance her, but just enough to let her know he could, if he felt like it.

[bornagoddess]

Now, Sif was fuming. She had exhaled, let all air out of her lungs, and she wondered if steam had come out, how boiling in anger she was. Sif had never met an adversary she could not count on her sword and shield to defeat. Or at least, help defeat. The fact that this man - if he was a man at all - could take her primary means of defense and bend it to his will...Well it would terrify her if she weren't so angry.

The moment this man grinned Sif vowed to wipe that off his face. By the time he nudged her armor again, Sif's chest was heaving, and she began pulling the metal armor loose from her leather. "Would you like one?" She untied the boot-guards, throwing them on the pile with the rest, and assumed a fighting position. "I do not need metal to put you in your place."

[morethanhuman]

"My place?" Erik snarled, an angry flush coloring his face. "I promise you, I know my place without anyone needing to show me to it." If she couldn't tell by his tone that he considered it to be above hers, more fool her.

The girl was clearly ready to brawl, and for once Erik was inclined to participate. How she'd guessed that his control was limited to metal he didn't know— maybe she knew him by reputation; she wouldn't have been the first— but he was in the mood to humor anyone who came looking to play punching bag, even if it was less fun than a test of his power would have been.

He shrugged, loosening his posture, ready to block her swing if and when it came. "But you're welcome to try and convince me otherwise."

[bornagoddess]

A hearty, mocking chuckle left Sif in earnest. Though she wasn't taller than the man she tried her best to stare him down, arms on either side of her body as her hands curled into fists. "As is apparent, you do not. I am truly not sure whether it is courage or foolishness of you to try your hardest to wage battle against an Asgardian."

He got into position, but Sif stayed the same, simply parting her legs a little wider. Her stance was ever one of 'no, you move', regardless of whether or not her shield was present. Sif did not remove her eyes from his as she spoke. "You bought the fight, metal bender, you begin it." she stated, a smirk of defiance coming over her features. "Or can you not put actions to words?"